PDF Box  |  HTML Box  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay used a 40-12 points in the paint advantage on Saturday afternoon as the Lady Govs picked up a 64-56 win over Eastern Illinois in Lantz Arena.  APSU improved to 5-13, 2-3 in the OVC.  EIU dropped to 7-10, 2-4 in the OVC.

Eastern Illinois had a balanced attack in the early minutes of the game as Taryn Olson, Jordyne Crunk and Morgan Palombizio all had baskets as EIU jumped out to a 6-2 lead.

Austin Peay then began to pound the ball down low starting with post baskets by Jennifer Nwokocha and Beth Rates.  Tearra Banks came off the bench for six of her nine points in the middle portion of the first half as APSU pulled out to a 20-14 lead. 

The Lady Govs shot 53 percent in the first half closing on a 12-5 run to lead 34-23 at the half.  Tiasha Gray hit a jumper with four seconds left to cap the APSU run.  Gary led all scorers with 15 points as Austin Peay had four players finish in double figures. 

Austin Peay extended it lead to 17 points with a 6-0 run to open the half as Kristen Stainback had a jumper and 3-pointer to accompany a free throw by Nwokocha.  Stainback finished with 12 points, Nwokocha with 11.

Crunk answered with a pair of 3-pointers for EIU as the Panthers put together a 6-0 run to trim the lead back to 11 points with 14:58 and APSU leading 42-31.  Crunk led EIU with 15 points making 3-of-7 from 3-point range. 

Austin Peay answered that EIU rally and turned away two other runs by the Panthers as the Lady Govs had several short runs of their own.  Gray started a run with 14:03 remaining the ended with APSU back up 17 points.  EIU chipped away to cut the lead to 11 two other times with Crunk's 3-pointer at 3:29 making the score 58-47. 

Another jumper by Crunk on the next possession cut the lead back to single digits but the Panthers could get no closer than eight points until the final 28 seconds of the game.  Austin Peay missed eight free throws in a row in the final 52 seconds shooting 9-of-22 from the stripe.

Katlyn Payne had 12 points and freshman Erica Brown just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds for EIU.  The Panthers return to action on Monday night hosting Murray State at 7 p.m.

Austin Peay's other double figure scorer was Rates 12.